Ohlone Dog Park in Berkeley started as the Experimental Dog Park back in 1979 and is now officially named the Martha Scott Benedict Memorial Park. You’ll find it at the intersection of Hearst and Grant Streets, right within Ohlone Park itself. The location works well if you’re in the East Bay — it’s easy to reach whether you live nearby or are just passing through.

The off-leash area is well-maintained and gives dogs plenty of room to run around and play with each other. You’ll see waste disposal stations set up throughout, which helps keep things clean, and there are benches scattered around if you want to sit and watch while your dog burns off energy. The park has a genuinely relaxed vibe where owners tend to chat with each other, swap advice, and sometimes make plans for future meetups. It’s the kind of place where you can actually have a conversation instead of just dropping your dog off and checking your phone.

The surrounding Ohlone Park has decent green space, so if your dog isn’t ready to leave after playtime, you can wander around a bit before heading out. The Ohlone Greenway is right there too if you want to extend the outing with a longer walk or jog after the dog park itself. It makes for a nice way to round out a visit to the area.

Since the park sometimes hosts activities and events for dog owners, it’s worth checking what’s happening before you head over. You might catch something special going on, or at least get a sense of when the park tends to be busiest so you can plan accordingly.